It’s been four months since my last installment of ‘What the Kids are Listening To,’ so I figured it was a good time for a summer check-in on the Billboard Hot 100.
In the #1 spot, where it has spent a record-tying 15 weeks, is Morgan Wallen’s ‘Last Night.’ The song now shares the record for longest time at #1 by a solo artist (no features) with Harry Styles’ ‘As It Was.’ One more week at #1 and it will own that title outright and join Mariah Carey’s ‘One Sweet Day’ and Luis Fonsi’s ‘Despacito’ as the songs with the second-longest tenure at #1. After that, Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ record of 19 weeks at #1 could be in its sights.
It’s such an unremarkable song to have such a hold on the charts, but I guess it struck a nerve. Anyway, I’ve already featured it so I’m moving on to #2.
Here we find another country artist, Luke Combs, and his hit cover of Tracy Chapman’s ‘Fast Car.’
Chapman’s version was the lead single of her 1988 debut album and made it to #6 on this chart back then, an impressive feat for an unknown folk artist.
Combs has had even more success with his version, taking it to #2 and having a decent shot at the top spot if Morgan Wallen would get out of the way. The song also topped the country chart, marking the first time a song written by a solo Black woman had achieved that feat.
This recording works so well because it is entirely faithful to the original. Combs even keeps the line “I work in the market as a checkout girl,” intent on leaving every lyric intact. I’m honestly surprised it took 35 years for somebody to realize Chapman had written a perfect country song.
You got a fast car
And I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere
Any place is better
Startin’ from zero, got nothin’ to lose
Maybe we’ll make something
Me, myself, I got nothin’ to prove
[Verse 2]
You got a fast car
And I got a plan to get us out of here
I’ve been workin’ at the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit of money
Won’t have to drive too far
Just across thе border and into the city
And you and I can both get jobs
Finally see what it mеans to be livin’
[Verse 3]
See, my old man’s got a problem
He live in the bottle, that’s the way it is
He said his body’s too old for working
His body’s too young to look like his
So Mama went off and left him
She wanted more from life than he could give
I said, somebody’s got to take care of him
So I quit school and that’s what I did
[Pre-Chorus]
You got a fast car
Is it fast enough so we can fly away?
Still gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way
[Chorus]
So I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
Speed so fast, I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us and your arm felt nice wrapped around my shoulder
And I, I, had a feeling that I belonged
I, I, had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
[Verse 4]
You got a fast car
We go cruising and entertain ourselves
You still ain’t got a job
So I work in the market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better
You’ll find work and I’ll get promoted
And we’ll move out of the shelter
Buy a bigger house, live in the suburbs
[Chorus]
Said I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
Speed so fast, I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us and your arm felt nice wrapped around my shoulder
And I, I, had a feeling that I belonged
I, I, had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
[Verse 5]
You got a fast car
I got a job that pays all our bills
You stay out drinking late at the bar
See more of your friends than you do your kids
I’d always hoped for better
Thought maybe together you and me would find it
I got no plans, I ain’t goin’ nowhere
Take your fast car and keep on driving
[Chorus]
So I remember when we were driving, driving in your car
Speed so fast, I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us and your arm felt nice wrapped around my shoulder
And I, I, had a feeling that I belonged
I, I, had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
[Instrumental Break]
[Outro]
You got a fast car
Is it fast enough so we can fly away?
Still gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way
Meet Me In Montauk 
So happy for Tracy Chapman, and happy that another generation can enjoy this wonderful song.